Platinum Single Atoms Strongly Promote Superoxide Formation in Titania‐Based Photocatalysis – Platinum Nanoparticles Don't
The selective reduction of molecular oxygen to superoxide is one of the key reactions in electrochemistry and photocatalysis. Here the effect of Pt co-catalysts, dispersed on titania, either as single atoms or as nanoparticles, on the photocatalytic superoxide (<sup>•</sup>O<sub>2</sub> <sup>-</sup>) formation in O<sub>2</sub> containing solutions is investigated. The <sup>•</sup>O<sub>2</sub> <sup>-</sup> formation is traced by nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assays and in detail by EPR measurements using TEMPO as <sup>•</sup>O<sub>2</sub> <sup>-</sup> radical scavenger. The results show that the photocatalytic formation rate of <sup>•</sup>O<sub>2</sub> <sup>-</sup> on titania can strongly be enhanced by using Pt single atoms as a co-catalyst, whereas Pt nanoparticles hardly exhibit any accelerating effect. This finding is of considerable significance regarding photocatalytic degradation and photocatalytic oxidative synthesis processes.
Authors
- Giorgio Zoppellaro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2304-2564)
- Zdeňěk Baďura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2330-2012)
- Patrik Schmuki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9208-5771)
- Yue Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2818-9787)
- Si‐Ming Wu
Institutions
- VSB - Technical University of Ostrava (CZ)
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials (CZ)
- Palacký University Olomouc (CZ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Small
- Published
- 2025-02-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202412097
- Citations
- 14
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.09
Funders
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Grantová Agentura České Republiky
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
- European Regional Development Fund